Harbour could bring power to the people

Southampton University's Oceanography Centre has been asked by Littlehampton Harbour Board to research the scheme, which could serve as a flood defence and also generate "green" electricity.

Members of the board backed the research project at their meeting on Tuesday, as part of a wider study into the future of the harbour, with which other universities could also be involved.

Deputy harbourmaster Will Barker, in a report to the board titled "The Way Ahead", outlined the possible changes to the river mouth. "This could include the building of lock gates at the harbour entrance to regulate water levels for berthing, to act as a flood defence for the predicted rising sea levels, and to generate hydro-electric power for the national grid, and thus effectively reducing our carbon footprint."

The Oceanography Centre, he added, believed a system using a water wheel, rather than turbines, would make the most of the high flow rate of the Arun and the tight entrance.

Mr Barker's report said other aspects of the harbour future which could be investigated by university researchers included its development as a leisure port and whether the limited commercial shipping should be allowed to continue.

A detailed study of the approaches to the harbour, including the sand and shingle banks, tidal flow, and existing defences, could also be considered.

Harbourmaster Colin Hitchcock said three south coast universities had shown an interest in the research project.

"We have to look at what we can do for the harbour and for the town, to make it a better place and to make it sustainable," he explained.

It was important to look to the future, as the amount of commercial shipping entering Littlehampton had declined in recent years, partly due to the drop in the number of smaller vessels capable of visiting the port.

He had just heard that one of the most regular visitors, the Union Arrow, would no longer be berthing in the harbour, as it had been sold and would be working off the coast of Turkey.

Mr Hitchcock said he had been "surprised and pleased" that three of the universities approached wanted to take a look at the harbour.

They would be given all the facts and figures and would investigate the potential for regeneration, before making a final report to the board. There would be no charge for the research, he added.

Board member Andy Gilham, Sussex flood defence manager for the Environment Agency, stressed the importance of working with the relevant agencies in carrying out the research, and Mr Hitchcock confirmed this would be the case.